Top Toddler Bath Time Games:
How to have fun while getting your child clean
Bath Time Supplies
There are a wealth of toys and games that you can purchase to enhance
your child's bath time, from bath crayons, body paint, and tub tints to stickup mirrors and foam or sponge animals, letters, and numbers. Here's a list
of items that you can collect for your child's bath; and most of them you can
either make for very little cost or purchase at a reasonable price.

Foam or Sponge Letters and Numbers: Sold at many toy stores,
these versatile, waterproof, floating numbers and letters are not just
fun but educational for your toddler. You can also make your own by
cutting out shapes and letters from new kitchen sponges or from craft
foam.

Bath Books: Many children's publishing companies offer books you
can take into the bath. These plastic, waterproof titles are available
from Dorling Kindersley and The Baby Einstein Company, to name
just a few publishers.

Bath Art Supplies: From Crayola bath crayons to body paint to
floating art activity centers, there are a plethora of creative bath art
supplies on the market today.

Washcloth Puppets: Available at children's stores, these fun hand
puppets double as washcloths. You can even make your own from
one of the many patterns available online, such as the one found at
www.sewing.org.

Bath Mirror: These plastic mirrors are readily available at toy stores
and offer your tot an opportunity to see all those silly hairstyles you
make when shampooing her locks.
1
This information is researched by staff of RFECY and is adapted from Top Toddler Bath Time
Games: How to have fun while getting your child clean. By Heather K. Scott
http://www.babyzone.com/baby_toddler_preschooler_health/hygiene_bath_time/article/toddlerbathtime-games
This documentation is provided for information purposes only and does not imply that
Resources for Exceptional Children and Youth – Durham Region recommends, condones or
supports the implementation of this information.

Wind-up Bath Toys: Fish, sharks, whales, and little swimmers—these
classic toys wind up and swim in your child's tub.

Boats: Collect plastic boats from your local discount store, or make
your own with a Tupperware container or plastic cup and a little
imagination.

Swim Goggles: Bring those swim goggles from the beach or pool into
the tub for some added bathtub fun.

Rubber Bath Toys: What child's bath would be complete without the
quintessential rubber ducky? You can also find rubber or plastic fish,
frogs, and turtles; some even squirt water.

Bubbles and Bubble Bath: Don't forget the bubble bath! In addition to
traditional bubble bath, keep a bottle of soap bubbles in the bathroom
just for bath time blowing. You can mix a couple drops of tub tint in
the bubbles for added color. (Parents of children that suffer with
urinary tract infections, yeast infections, or eczema may want to skip
the bubbles since they could cause further irritation.)
You may already have many bath toys on hand and just don't realize it. Let
your child hunt through his or her toy chest and bring favorite plastic farm
animals or dinosaurs, cars and trucks, tea sets, or beach pails and watering
cans into the tub.
2
This information is researched by staff of RFECY and is adapted from Top Toddler Bath Time
Games: How to have fun while getting your child clean. By Heather K. Scott
http://www.babyzone.com/baby_toddler_preschooler_health/hygiene_bath_time/article/toddlerbathtime-games
This documentation is provided for information purposes only and does not imply that
Resources for Exceptional Children and Youth – Durham Region recommends, condones or
supports the implementation of this information.
Activities and Games
 Row, Row, Row Your Boat: Your little one will enjoy singing this
ageless nursery rhyme with you in the tub. Act out the lyrics and fill a
toy boat or a Tupperware container with favorite plastic animals, then
"row" them from one end of the tub to the other.
 Ice Cube Surprise: If the weather is warm, treat your child to this bath
activity. Take a handful of small plastic animals or bath sponges
(dinosaurs, farm animals, or ocean creatures) and submerge them in
ice cube trays or small plastic cups; then freeze them overnight. Drop
the ice cubes into a warm bath on a hot day, and watch the animals
slowly emerge from the ice. For variety, you can try adding ice cubes
made with colored water to a clear-water bath.
 Washcloth-Puppet Play: Easy to find and equally easy to make at
home, these imaginative washcloth creatures can add drama to your
child's bath. Make up plays with your child and his washcloth
puppets. Create a special story just for him, or take turns with
different characters. Use the soft creatures to wash your tot's face
and body and let him do the same to the puppet.
 Color Wonder: Let your child choose a tub tint for her nightly bath, or
bring out the body paint or bath crayons for a colorful bathtub art
session. This is a personal favorite at our house. Our daughter
especially likes us to draw a landscape on the side of the tub for her
to "walk" her favorite plastic animal through. You too can create your
own scenes or character to spark your child's imagination. Draw fish
on the bottom and sides of the tub, or create bath stories each night
and draw the characters. Incorporate learning into bath time by
drawing shapes and having your child identify them.
3
This information is researched by staff of RFECY and is adapted from Top Toddler Bath Time
Games: How to have fun while getting your child clean. By Heather K. Scott
http://www.babyzone.com/baby_toddler_preschooler_health/hygiene_bath_time/article/toddlerbathtime-games
This documentation is provided for information purposes only and does not imply that
Resources for Exceptional Children and Youth – Durham Region recommends, condones or
supports the implementation of this information.
 Rub-a-Dub: Gather all your rubber ducks or other waterproof toys and
announce that it is time for everyone to get a good scrub-down. Bring
out some bubble bath or children's soap, several washcloths or
sponges, and have your child bathe all of his toys. Set a folded towel
on the edge of the tub, or within your child's reach, to set clean toys
upon.
 Go Fish: Turn your bath into a deep sea aquarium. FamilyFun.com
suggests buying an inexpensive aquarium net from a local pet store
and some colorful sponges or craft foam. Cut out small sea animals
from the foam or sponges (about two- to three-inches big) and let
your child go fishing in the bathtub. To add a creative twist to this
idea, you can also bring in several small beach pails to the bath for
your child to sort the fish by color or shape after catching them with
the net.
 All By Myself: Let your child take the lead at bath time. "Even though
you have washed your child countless times, you might not have
actually demonstrated how to wash," writes Dr. Lawrence Cohen,
author of Playful Parenting. He suggests showing your child how to
wash and rinse her body and hair and explain why it is important to
do so. This activity is not only fun for your child, but empowering as
well.
 ABCs and 123s: Cut out letters and numbers from craft foam or
sponges (or invest in a pre-made set from your local children's store)
and play school in the tub. Or engage your child in a game of I Spy
with the numbers and letters hidden among the bath bubbles.
 Deep Sea Diver: Does your little one get squeamish when you
mention shampoo? To help your toddler feel more comfortable when
washing his hair, purchase a pair of swimming goggles or a child's
snorkel mask and let your child wear it in the tub. This trick prevents
your little one from getting soap in his eyes. You can also fill the tub
with lots of bubbles and hide toys and treasures for your toddler
under the water. Let her pretend she's a deep sea diver and help her
"explore" underwater for trinkets and treasures.
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This information is researched by staff of RFECY and is adapted from Top Toddler Bath Time
Games: How to have fun while getting your child clean. By Heather K. Scott
http://www.babyzone.com/baby_toddler_preschooler_health/hygiene_bath_time/article/toddlerbathtime-games
This documentation is provided for information purposes only and does not imply that
Resources for Exceptional Children and Youth – Durham Region recommends, condones or
supports the implementation of this information.
 Soap-Sculpted Hairdos: Grab your camera before bath time if you
want to try this artistic adventure in hair washing—the results can be
amusing enough to photograph. After wetting your child's hair, create
loads of lather with shampoo and sculpt your toddler's hair into funny
shapes. Have a bath mirror handy so she can admire her lovely
hairstyle!
 At the Races: Launch wind-up toys into the tub for a race and cheer
on your favorite one. Teach your little one how to create waves by
moving her hand underwater and see who can propel their boat the
furthest. Or race toy cars around the edge of the tub over imaginary
or drawn race tracks.
 Rain Showers: Turn an ordinary bath into something unique by
showering your toddler with fun. Try plugging the bathtub so your
child is taking a bath and a shower at the same time. If you think the
regular shower may be overwhelming, try using a hand-held shower
head on your little one—you may even want to croon Singing in the
Rain to him. As a bonus, the hand-held shower heads make rinsing
hair a lot easier too, since you can easily control the spray of water.
Just be careful if your toddler gets a handle on the attachment—
you're likely to be drenched!
Bath time provides a wonderful opportunity to connect with your toddler and
give her lots of love and attention. Cover the bathroom floor with towels, roll
up your sleeves, sing songs, wash each other's faces, and enjoy splashing
in the tub.
5
This information is researched by staff of RFECY and is adapted from Top Toddler Bath Time
Games: How to have fun while getting your child clean. By Heather K. Scott
http://www.babyzone.com/baby_toddler_preschooler_health/hygiene_bath_time/article/toddlerbathtime-games
This documentation is provided for information purposes only and does not imply that
Resources for Exceptional Children and Youth – Durham Region recommends, condones or
supports the implementation of this information.